Motorola: More Devices, Screens Coming To A Home Near You (FASTech)

Motorola Inc. sees a future where there are more mobile devices, more screens to watch and more opportunities than in the past to help consumers navigate a roiling sea of content.

Geoff Roman, chief technology officer of Motorola Inc.’s Mobile Devices and Home Business division, said at the VentureWire FASTech conference on Wednesday that tomorrow’s consumers will have video coming at them from a variety of sources, including cable providers, satellite companies, Internet providers, smartphones, tablet computers and devices that have not been invented yet.

Motorola aims to have a handle on all the various “pipes” through which video and other content reaches users, he said.

“The poor consumer will have a difficult navigation task,” he said. “What is on what pipe, and how do I get it? The opportunity is for someone to be that integrator, who brings together the access in a seamless, user-friendly way.”

The home will become a place of multiple devices used by each family member, Roman said, envisioning a 50” television screen in the home of the future but everyone having their own smaller screen, featuring content that complements what they’re watching on the big screen or different content altogether.

“Back in the ‘90s you had picture in picture technology, now it’s going to be picture out of picture – ‘POP’ technology.” Roman said.

Motorola, he said, is reaching out to entrepreneurs of various stripes as the company defends its foothold among consumers.

The chief technology officer’s office routinely reaches out to universities, which are a traditional hotbed of innovation, he said. Motorola issues requests for proposals, and currently has eight “active engagements” with universities.